Wasps are Florida’s Most Common Stinging Pest

Wasps are probably one of the most feared pests there is. While bees also sting, but they can do so only once before dying. Ants can bite and their bites can cause painful swelling, but it’s easier to outrun an ant than it is to outrun a wasp. Additionally, wasps can sting multiple times, and they often do when their nest is disturbed or they’re scared. However, with a little knowledge, you can be well on your way to peacefully coexisting with these stinging insects.

It’s important to remember that wasps are actually useful to industry and to the environment. Some species are pollinators – like bees, they fly from flower to flower and help increase pollen exchange, boosting flower production. Many prey on various pest insects that can damage crops and also serve as food for several other animals. Think of wasps as a form of natural outdoor pest control, and it’ll be easier to live alongside them. That said, you still need to be careful. When you know how wasps work, you’ll be able to stay out of harm’s way.

Dealing With Common Wasps

Florida is home mainly to two types of wasps – the cicada killer and the paper wasp. Paper wasps, like many wasps are social, and their nests are made of a mixture of bits of wood and paper and wasp saliva. These nests appear to be made of paper and feature one or more honeycomb-shaped openings. Paper wasps are the “sweets and meats” wasp – you might find one feeding on roadkill or perched on the lid of your opened soda can. Paper wasps don’t pollinate. They are smaller wasps – between ¾ and 1 inch – and they can be any color from reddish-brown to black. All have yellowish marks on the abdomen.

The cicada killer, as the name suggests, kills cicadas and buries them with larvae, or grubs, underground. These wasps are large – up to two inches – and, unlike paper wasps and most others, they don’t live in large groups. Rather, wasps nest individually. These are striking in appearance, with yellow stripes on a black body. The head and thorax are both reddish brown.

If you can get a grasp of why wasps behave as they do, you’ll be able to keep yourself safe. Though some are more aggressive than others, most wasps will only bother you if they feel threatened. Keeping a safe distance from nests can help you. If you do find yourself near a wasp, remain calm – flailing, loud noises, or sudden motion may make a wasp feel threatened and therefore more likely to sting.

Sometimes, though, wasp nests need to be removed – if one has been set up inside your home, barn, or other structure, for instance, you may need to call a Brevard County pest control service such as Slug-A-Bug, to have the nest safely taken out.

Remember that wasp stings are rarely fatal, though they can cause considerable discomfort. If you are stung, icing down the sting site can help ease some of the pain and inflammation. Anyone who is allergic to wasp stings should call 911 immediately – for those who are hyperallergic (about 1%), even one wasp sting can be fatal if not treated quickly. For the most part, wasps are peaceful, even beneficial creatures, and living in harmony with them can simplify your summer.